Burglars escaped with &#xA3;3 million worth of goods in 3,283 break-ins across the West Midlands in just under two months, police data has revealed.

Analysis of the crimes from July 1 to August 27 showed the crooks stole 11,999 items - with cash sums of under &#xA3;50 the most likely item to be taken.

The second "hottest" property to be targeted is video equipment and DVD players, closely followed by computers, phones and jewellery.

Police analysts also believe luggage is one of the first things picked up by burglars - and is then filled up with other stolen goods and used to carry the haul away.

A total of 133 cars worth just over &#xA3;1 million were also stolen during burglaries in this period.

And personal documents including bank books, driving licences, passports and pension books made up four per cent of stolen items.

Police are now encouraging people to mark their valuable goods using a property-marking pen, available at local police stations.

Inspector Simon Wallis, deputy co-ordinator for Safer Homes, the force- wide operation to crack down on house burglaries in the West Midlands, said: "We are working tremendously hard to reduce acquisitive crime.

"In the case of burglary there are many things which can be done to reduce the likelihood of victimisation, such as installing good locks or an alarm and having watchful neighbours.

"People could also help the police by protecting their property by using UV marker pens.

"Research shows thieves are less likely to steal property which could be traced back to its owner."

And he warned police were also cracking down on people who handle stolen goods - an offence which can carry up to 14 years in prison.

He said: "People who buy suspected stolen property are just as guilty. If you purchase goods on the cheap you are as good as employing the burglars, who often need cash to fund drug addiction."